The Players' Group
2022 - 2023
CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF BACH, SCHUMANN & BÁRTOK
This season members of The Oxford Piano Group will be playing, exploring and discussing three significant collections of pieces for keyboard instruments.
J.S. Bach’s The Well Tempered Clavier, (the 48 Preludes and Fugues)
Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen
Bela Bartók’s Mikrokosmos
J.S. Bach’s The Well Tempered Clavier, (the 48 Preludes and Fugues)
Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen
Bela Bartók’s Mikrokosmos
Autumn Series 2022
Celebrating the '48', J.S. Bach
2022 marks the 300th anniversary of the publication of J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Part 1, BWV 846-869.
We will celebrate this ground-breaking set of pieces by studying of selected preludes & fugues. Everyone is encouraged to play a fugue, whether as a solo, a duet or in an ensemble.
Celebrating the '48', J.S. Bach
2022 marks the 300th anniversary of the publication of J.S. Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Part 1, BWV 846-869.
We will celebrate this ground-breaking set of pieces by studying of selected preludes & fugues. Everyone is encouraged to play a fugue, whether as a solo, a duet or in an ensemble.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25
Introducing the '48'
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Putting the ’48’ in context and deconstructing a fugue
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Exploring Bach and his keyboard music
Players are encouraged to bring along any keyboard piece of Bach or his contemporaries they have studied in the past.
During the day there will be the opportunity for everyone to take part in playing a 4 part fugue in open score
These will be live sessions at the JdP!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15
A workshop on style and interpretation
Players can play anything they have been working on. This might be just a few bars or a longer extract. General and specific matters of style will be highlighted.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11
Beate Toyka - guest speaker
Concert pianist Beate Toyka will be joining us for the morning and sharing with us her passion and deep knowledge for the ’48’ Preludes and Fugues.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10
Performance Workshop
This will have a focus on Bach but players are welcome to bring other repertoire
This will be a live session at the JdP. 10am-12.30pm
The meeting will be followed by our Christmas social at a local restaurant.
Introducing the '48'
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Putting the ’48’ in context and deconstructing a fugue
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Exploring Bach and his keyboard music
Players are encouraged to bring along any keyboard piece of Bach or his contemporaries they have studied in the past.
During the day there will be the opportunity for everyone to take part in playing a 4 part fugue in open score
These will be live sessions at the JdP!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15
A workshop on style and interpretation
Players can play anything they have been working on. This might be just a few bars or a longer extract. General and specific matters of style will be highlighted.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11
Beate Toyka - guest speaker
Concert pianist Beate Toyka will be joining us for the morning and sharing with us her passion and deep knowledge for the ’48’ Preludes and Fugues.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am - 12.30pm
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10
Performance Workshop
This will have a focus on Bach but players are welcome to bring other repertoire
This will be a live session at the JdP. 10am-12.30pm
The meeting will be followed by our Christmas social at a local restaurant.
Spring Series 2023
Kinderszenen, Op 15. Robert Schumann
In 1838 Robert Schumann composed Kinderszenen, Op.15 a set of small but perfect miniatures, inspired by his love for the young pianist Clara Wieck. During the Spring Series we will be looking in depth at the thirteen pieces in the set, discovering the stories and motivation behind the notes.
Kinderszenen, Op 15. Robert Schumann
In 1838 Robert Schumann composed Kinderszenen, Op.15 a set of small but perfect miniatures, inspired by his love for the young pianist Clara Wieck. During the Spring Series we will be looking in depth at the thirteen pieces in the set, discovering the stories and motivation behind the notes.
SATURDAY JANUARY 21
Introducing Kinderszenen.
The history and background of Kinderszenen will be discussed and Sally will give a complete performance
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18
A workshop with TOPG players on style and interpretation
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MARCH 25 - FULL DAY at JdP
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Rehearsal and a complete performance of Kinderszenen given by members of TOPG
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Continuation of the morning and a look at other music by Robert and Clara Schumann
These will be live sessions at the JdP
Introducing Kinderszenen.
The history and background of Kinderszenen will be discussed and Sally will give a complete performance
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18
A workshop with TOPG players on style and interpretation
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MARCH 25 - FULL DAY at JdP
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Rehearsal and a complete performance of Kinderszenen given by members of TOPG
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Continuation of the morning and a look at other music by Robert and Clara Schumann
These will be live sessions at the JdP
Summer Series 2023
Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107. Béla Bártok
Mikrokosmos, Béla Bartók’s collection of 153 piano pieces, was composed between 1926 and 1939. Contained in six volumes they start at beginner level and progress through to performance level by book 6. A pedagogical gold-mine they contain every technical and musical device that needs to be learnt by a developing pianist.
Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107. Béla Bártok
Mikrokosmos, Béla Bartók’s collection of 153 piano pieces, was composed between 1926 and 1939. Contained in six volumes they start at beginner level and progress through to performance level by book 6. A pedagogical gold-mine they contain every technical and musical device that needs to be learnt by a developing pianist.
SATURDAY APRIL 22
Introducing Bártok
The morning will focus on finding out about this important composer and TOPG players exploring
his style through selected music from Books I, II & III.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MAY 20
Continuing the journey
The exploration of Mikrokosmos continues with selected music from Books IV, V & VI.
This will be a live session at the JdP. 10.00am-12.30pm
SUNDAY JUNE 11 - ALL DAY
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Mikrokosmos - a celebration part 1
During the day we will aim to play as many of 153 pieces as possible!
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Mikrokosmos - a celebration part 2
Continuing the Bartok marathon.
SATURDAY JULY 15
Summer party
venue to be announced
Introducing Bártok
The morning will focus on finding out about this important composer and TOPG players exploring
his style through selected music from Books I, II & III.
This will be an online session via zoom. 10am-12.30pm
SATURDAY MAY 20
Continuing the journey
The exploration of Mikrokosmos continues with selected music from Books IV, V & VI.
This will be a live session at the JdP. 10.00am-12.30pm
SUNDAY JUNE 11 - ALL DAY
Session 1 - 10am-12.30pm
Mikrokosmos - a celebration part 1
During the day we will aim to play as many of 153 pieces as possible!
Session 2 - 1.30pm-4pm
Mikrokosmos - a celebration part 2
Continuing the Bartok marathon.
SATURDAY JULY 15
Summer party
venue to be announced
Fees for 2022 - 2023 season
Autumn Series - £124
Spring Series - £124
Summer Series - £124
The Oxford Piano Group, Players' Group is currently full
If you are interested in coming as an observer please email [email protected]